Russia

Pool photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russia is the largest country by land mass in the world, a status it maintained even after shedding 14 countries when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Early economic turmoil in the Russian Federation gave way to widespread privatization of industry and oil-fueled growth. The nation’s politics have been dominated for more than a decade by the regime of President Vladimir Putin, who has re-nationalized private assets, cracked down on freedom of expression and pursued an expansion of regional influence. This expansion has included a military intervention in Ukraine and an internationally condemned annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Scroll below to learn more about Russia using our article archive and chronology of breaking news.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 31, 2015

Obama administration identifies 26 additional people and institutions, eight of which are linked to Gennady Timchenko, billionaire Russian businessman who is known to have ties to President Vladimir V Putin, that will be subject to economic sanctions as part of effort to maintain pressure on Russian government over its support of insurgents fighting in Ukraine. MORE

Jul. 30, 2015

Russia blocks United Nations Security Council resolution, obstructing formation of tribunal to prosecute those responsible for destroying of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 and angering nations whose citizens died in wreck; says resolution was propaganda move to implicate Kremlin-backed Ukrainian separatists controlling eastern Ukraine; jetliner was destroyed while flying over Ukrainian area annexed by pro-Russian separatists. MORE

Jul. 30, 2015

Swedish Armed Forces identify Imperial Russian Navy submarine from World War I as vessel discovered off Swedish coast by Ocean X Team; say sub most likely sank in 1916 and has no relation to current geopolitics. MORE

Jul. 29, 2015

United Nations Security Council will vote on draft resolution creating tribunal to prosecute culprits responsible for July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17; speculation regarding crash, which killed all 298 people on board, is that missile launched by pro-Russia separatists destroyed aircraft flying over Eastern Ukraine; Russia is expected to block resolution. MORE

Jul. 29, 2015

Lawyers present final statements in British court over poisoning death inquiry of Alexander V Litvinenko, former KGB officer who had sought asylum in Great Britain; case moves forward after Judge Robert Owen concludes that last witness, former Soviet Army officer Dmitri V Kovtun who failed to testify after receiving delay, never intended to give evidence. MORE

Jul. 28, 2015

Hard-liners in Russian government loyal to Pres Vladimir V Putin have begun attack on Anatoly B Chubais, who is best known for his work in shaping post-Soviet economy of Russia and is currently head of state-owned company Rusnano; reasons behind attack, which has included persecution of some of Chubais's allies, are unclear but could be political or economic in nature. MORE

Jul. 28, 2015

Dmitri V Kovtun, key suspect in poisoning death of former KGB officer Alexander V Litvinenko, refuses to testify in inquiry via video link from Moscow; had been scheduled to give three days of testimony but lawyer says he feels bound by confidentiality agreement in Russian investigation of case. MORE

Jul. 25, 2015

Group of conservative French lawmakers visit Crimea, first visit by foreign delegation since region was annexed by Russia; Russian Pres Vladimir Putin has earned support of some right-wing factions across Europe; trip, called private initiative by group, is condemned by French government. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

MacArthur Foundation closes its Russian offices after discovering lawmakers there placed them on preliminary list of nongovernmental groups that may be illegal under May 2015 legislation; nonprofit has been in Russia since 1992 and has granted over $173 million for projects in country. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

Editorial decries Russia's move to have United Nations play larger role in investigation of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which many suspect was shot down in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine with a Russian missile; argues that ploy is intended to provide Russia greater leverage to interfere with inquiry and disguise its involvement. MORE

Jul. 20, 2015

Tiny village of Golovinka in Russia's historically pastoral steppe region has been greatly affected by intense military activity surrounding nearby Kuzminka military base in midst of Ukraine conflict; Ukrainian and Western governments claim Kuzminka is staging ground for Russian soldiers and weapons headed into the war zone in southeastern Ukraine. MORE

Jul. 20, 2015

Col Veaceslav Rusu explains joint maneuvers involving around 800 troops from Moldova, United States, Romania, Poland and Georgia, which are taking place in Balti, Moldovia, are designed to test cooperative abilities of joint force; such regional exercises have increased since Ukrainian unrest. MORE

Jul. 17, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin rejects United Nations tribunal for Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which is believed to have been destroyed in 2014 by surface-to-air missile fired from territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. MORE

Jul. 16, 2015

Direct involvement of Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin in Iran's nuclear agreement has burnished his diplomatic credentials even as he finds himself increasingly ostracized by West; Putin played key role in lifting 2010 arms embargo as part of agreement. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

Death toll in collapse of Russian military barracks rises to 23 people, with at least another 22 injured; officials say investigations into disaster are underway. MORE

Jul. 13, 2015

At least two people are killed at military training center in south-central Russia when a concrete military barracks partly collapses; cause of collapse is unclear. MORE

Jul. 12, 2015

Russian research foundation Dynasty Fund will shut down as result of being labeled foreign agent by Russian government, despite fact that it has been major funding source for Russian science; is one of several organizations, along with humans rights organization Memorial, that have become unlikely casualties under Russia's campaign to expose foreign influences seen as threatening by Pres Vladimir Putin. MORE

Jul. 11, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin says to reporters at meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS group of rising economic powers that punitive financial and economic sanctions should no longer be used against any country in world; Russia has suffered from sanctions for its activities in Ukraine, and Putin calls for end to similar measure used against Iran. MORE

Jul. 10, 2015

Gen Joseph F Dunford Jr, speaking at Senate hearing on his nomination for Joint Chiefs of Staff, singles out Russia as greatest national security threat to United States. MORE

Jul. 9, 2015

Rublovka Journal; real estate market falls in upscale Moscow suburb of Rublovka, home to Pres Vladimir V Putin, celebrities and other Russian elite; oil price drop and Western sanctions have made economic outlook hazy, and many Russians have stopped spending on luxury homes and other big ticket items. MORE

Jul. 9, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin vows to add yoga to his exercise repertoire at meeting with Indian Prime Min Narendra Modi, who thanked Putin for Soviet’s salute of International Yoga Day, global celebration initiated by Modi; meeting was part of two Russian summit meetings with number of global leaders in attempt to show that Western efforts to isolate Russia over Ukrainian crisis have failed. MORE

Jul. 8, 2015

Islamic fighters, most of whom are Chechens, are aiding eastern Ukrainians in their battle against Russian separatist rebels; Chechens are viewed as valuable soldiers, who are fighting common enemy with Ukraine as unpaid volunteers. MORE

Jul. 7, 2015

Lifting of all United Nations embargoes against Iran is taking on bigger import as negotiated deal nears over country's nuclear program; United States and European allies oppose lifting sanctions, while Russia and China continue to quietly press for lifting of ban. MORE

Jul. 2, 2015

Russian government's crackdown on Muslim citizens causes Islam converts to flee, escaping near-constant surveillance and violent scrutiny; Russian stance is fueled by historic fear of separatist extremism and challenges to Orthodox Christian national identity that Pres Vladimir Putin has used to unite a post-Soviet Communism population. MORE

Jun. 30, 2015

Russian Foreign Min Sergey V Lavrov says he will meet with Sec of State John Kerry to discuss rising attacks by extremists in Syria; announcement came after Pres Vladimir V Putin, who has pledged support for fighting against Islamic State, met with Syrian Foreign Min Walid al-Moallem. MORE

Jun. 29, 2015

Dutch officials investigating July 2014 Malaysian jetliner crash in Ukraine say they have been blocked from conducting research into Luhansk cellphone towers by pro-Russian separatists who control eastern Ukraine region; investigators were checking Ukrainian intelligence claims that they had intercepted telephone conversations of separatist leaders discussing shooting down plane; separatists strongly deny any involvement in disaster. MORE

Jun. 29, 2015

Editorial examines rising tensions between United States, Russia and China over potential for armed conflict in space, particularly the security of thousands of civilian and government satellites; calls for increased diplomacy on issue, specifically the establishment of new norms for responsible behavior and a test ban on anti-satellite, or ASAT, weapons. MORE

Jun. 29, 2015

Collaborators on Russian Library project, ambitious endeavor of Russian and American academics, publishers and Russian government officials hoping to promote cultural understanding by publishing new translations of Russian literature, begin lively debate on which materials should be on list. MORE

Jun. 27, 2015

Gennadiy Gatilov, deputy Russian foreign minister, rejects calls from Netherlands, Malaysia and other countries for establishment of United Nations tribunal to prosecute those responsible for shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight in Ukraine. MORE

Jun. 26, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin and Pres Obama speak over phone in first instance of direct contact between two leaders in four months due to Russian actions in Ukraine; discuss fight against Islamic State, spread of radicalism in Middle East and negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program; American officials say Obama focused on conflict in Ukraine. MORE

Jun. 24, 2015

NATO turns from years of confronting threats beyond its borders to refocus on its original enemy Russia, spurred by country's annexation of Crimea and fighting in Ukraine; shift is apparent in military training exercises in former Soviet republic of Latvia, now NATO member and on alliance's eastern side. MORE

Jun. 24, 2015

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column observes latest developments in China and Russia, as well as deployment of new armament to Eastern European NATO allies, indicates emergence of new Cold War; contend this iteration will resemble a raw jostling for power, lacking the clash of ideologies that defined the original; holds sanctions and economic clout remain the United States' most powerful weapons. MORE

Jun. 23, 2015

Russian officials accuse European Union of anti-Russian bias for announcing renewal of sanctions on same day country was honoring Soviet victims of World War II; vows to extend ban on European agricultural imports. MORE

Jun. 22, 2015

Editorial argues Russian Pres Vladimir Putin seems increasingly desperate as he maintains fiction that West is to blame for provoking tensions in Ukraine and initiating new Cold War; contends planned extension of European Union sanctions, along with realignment of NATO forces, show that Putin has so far been unable to split trans-Atlantic alliance against his annexation of Crimea. MORE

Jun. 22, 2015

Moises Kaufman, author of play Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, says attempt to stage work with homosexual theme by Moscow New Drama Theater has been thwarted by political tensions and Russian government's rejection of homosexuality. MORE

Jun. 20, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin and Greek Prime Min Alexis Tsipras put on show of solidarity and economic cooperation at annual gathering of global business executives at St Petersburg International Economic Forum; statements issued by both governments following bilateral talks, in which no mention is made of Russian financial assistance to Greece, suggest that show was more opportunity to deride European Union than anything else. MORE

Jun. 20, 2015

Lawmakers in lower house of Russian Parliament grant tentative approval to measure that will move up 2016 parliamentary elections by three months; critics have called measure attempt to lower public interest in campaign and weaken prospects of opposition. MORE

Jun. 19, 2015

About 70 American chief executives and officers, along with even more from Europe, attend three-day economic conference in St Petersburg, Russia, despite objections of their home governments; attendance, following year in which most western businesses boycotted the event, amounts to coup for Russian government as it faces recession. MORE

Jun. 18, 2015

European Union will extend economic sanctions against Russia for six more months, after Russia failed to secure a blocking vote; sanctions were imposed at same time United States adopted similar measures after Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014. MORE

Jun. 17, 2015

Russian Pres Vladimir V Putin, during his opening address nation's first high-tech military exposition, says country will add 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear stockpile in 2015 and repeats pledge that at least 70 percent of all weapons will be modernized by 2020; analysts say Russia does not have technology or finances for such improvements. MORE

Jun. 17, 2015

Russian steel companies like Severstal are booming, even as rest of country braces for recession in face of weak ruble, international sanctions and falling oil prices; same conditions have created significant opportunity for certain commodity companies that sell their goods on global markets where prices are set in dollars; boom has created outsize gains for investors who entered sector ahead of downturn. MORE

Jun. 16, 2015

Russian officials respond to reports that United States may increase military presence in bordering NATO states, saying move undermines 1997 agreement and could lead to competitive arms buildup in area. MORE

Jun. 16, 2015

Antiwar rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk is unusual in that protesters call for withdrawal of both Ukrainian Army and Russian-backed separatists. MORE

Jun. 14, 2015

Pentagon, seeking to deter potential Russian aggression in Europe, proposes first major expansion of troops and heavy weaponry in Eastern Europe since end of Cold War; are proposing to deliver battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and as many as 5,000 American troops to NATO member nations in region; plan, if approved, would signal major shift in policy and send clear message of resolve to allies and Russia. MORE

Jun. 12, 2015

Some Russian organizations are running online crowdfunding campaigns to fund rebels in eastern Ukraine, helping conflict that has killed more than 6,400 people; groups often present their mission as humanitarian, but most directly endorse armed insurgency and promise to help equip their forces. MORE

Jun. 12, 2015

Many Congressional lawmakers are pressing Obama administration to provide weapons to Ukraine. MORE

Jun. 11, 2015

Russian warships have made four intrusions in 2015 in area of Baltic Sea where cables connecting Lithuania to Sweden's electricity grid have been laid; Russia views attempts to reduce European dependence on Russian energy, particularly in former Soviet states, as threat to its regional power, particularly in light of standoff between West and Russia over its actions in Ukraine. MORE

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Reference Material About Russia

Russia is the largest and most powerful of the states to emerge from the former Soviet Union. As the seat of the Soviet empire that existed for over 70 years, the Russians wielded tremendous power both within the U.S.S.R. and in the international sphere. Almost from their emergence as a separate people, the Russians have extended the boundaries of their country to include a wide variety of non-Russian people. Both the Russian Czars and the Bolsheviks who came to power in 1917 have a long history of expansionist policies, which explains why, even today, an important part of the Russian national identity is that of leader of a large empire.

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